Ratchet-screwdriver



J/VMEN TOR APPLICATION FlL ED JUNE 23, I920.

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UNHTED STATES WALENTY J. MALECKI, 0F EAST PITTSBURGH, ?ENNSYLVMTIA-BATCHET-SOREWDRIVER.

L ldl go Application filed. June 28,

T 0 all w ham it may concern Be it known that I, l/VALENTY J. MALECKI, acitizen of the United States, residing at East Pittsburgh, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a newRatchet-Screwdriver, of which the following is a specification.

My idea was to create a tool, which could be used not only as anordinary screw driver, but also, which could form a screw driver andlever-arm in one tool.

I attain this arrangement by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of thescrew driver assembled for ordinary use.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the handle arranged at an angle to the rodrepresenting a screw driver and lever-arm in one tool.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the head of the handle, showingthe arrangement of one ratchet-another and reversed ratchet beingsimilar and combined from similar parts,.is not shown.

Fig. 4 is an upper view of the handle bottcm piece, and bulb-trap, withthe upper plate oil, showing how the bulb-trap is combined.

Fig. 5 is an axial section of the bottompiece of the handle, showing oneside of the bulb-trap.

Fig. 6 is an axial section of the handlehead, along the vertical slotand hole.

Fig. 7 is a section throughout the ratchet mechanism, omitting the pawlsrepresenting the arrangement of key.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the key.

Similar numerals refer to the similar partsthrougheut the several viewsThe handle middle-piece 1, which is a sleeve having a reduced bore atone end forming a rod bearing 2, the bottom-piece 3, and the head 4,attached to each other by threads form the handle of the tool, inside ofwhich may be slid the rod 5, flattened at its upper end, to form a screwdriver blade,

and provided with a bulb on its other end to fit the bulb trap shown inFig. 4, and with a key slot, along one side of its length.

The bulb-trap, mounted in bottompiece 3, which is formed like a cup forthis purpose, consists of two pivoted arms 7. a spring 8 for each arm,an inclosing ring 9, all arranged between. two plates 10 connectedtogether by two rivets 11, '11 forming the pivots for the arms andscrewed inte the bottom Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5 1 .55 21...

1920. Serial No. 391,239.

piece as shown in Fig. 2, and said bulb-trap supports the rod 5 holdingit by the bulb.

The arms 7 are hollowed on their insides and finished, so the bulb canbe easily pushed in, or pulled out, when the other adjustment isrequired. I

The rod 5 has a ratchet mechanism, mounted in handle-head 4, whichconsists of four pawls 12, (two on each side), four springs 13,actuating the free ends of the pawls 12, two ratchet wheels 14, the hubsof which are inserted into the opening of the middle piece 15, with theratchet wheels on the outside.

The springs 13, are cut out from two pieces of flat steel and bent tothe required form, each providing two springs, as shown in Fig. 6.

The middle-piece 15, is provided with flat bottomed recesses or seats onits two opposite sides, for reception of the springs.

The springs 13 and their seats are provided with holes for reception ofthreaded pins 19, which being screwed into the middle-piece 15, retainthe springs 193 in their positions by the shoulders and also support theratchet mechanism, by their extended ends, in the openings of thehandlehead 4.

All these parts are mounted between two plates 16, connected by twerivets 18, constituting the pivots for the pawis 12 and compose theratchet mechanism operable by the handle 1, when arranged either axiallyof rod 5 or as lever-arm (as in li ig. 2). in order to adjust theratchet mechanism to he rotated either to the lighter to the left a key(3 is provided which fits slidahly in the key slot or portion which doesnot project outside of said groove, a rib at one end inserted in asimilar hole of the ring by which it may he engaged to slide it and awider portion which forms the operative part and may he slid intoengagement alternatively with either of the ratchet wheels to key saidwheel to rod 5; it being understood, of course, that the teeth of andpawls for said wheels operate in opposite directions as indicated inFig. 6.

n assembling the mechanical screwdriver ter ordinary use, shown in Fig.1, l put'the kc 6 into the groove t1'; the inside of the mecii fittingits keyway with the key. into the handle of tool until its bulb engagesthe groove in rod 5 and has a reduced anism first, then pusi: the rod 5bulb holder in the bottom piece of the handle.

To adjust the screw-driver, as shown in Fig. 2, I pull the rod'5 out ofthe bulb-trap and through the head 4 suificiently for it and the ratchetmechanism to be given a quarter turn in the slot of the handle-head andput it into the hole, provided for this purpose in opposite side of thehandle-head 4 from the slot. Next, disconnecting the bottom-piece 3 fromhandle-piece 1, I attach it to the bulb of the rod, by the trappreviously described. In this way I obtain a mechanical screw-driver inwhich the handle has a ratchet connection with the blade either inalinement therewith or as a lever arm.

The handle head is prevented from unscrewing from the intermediatesleeve by a latch 20 engaging a notch.

I claim:

1. The handle of the mechanical screwdriver, consisting of thehandle-middlepiece with a rod b'earing inside of its lower end, alsothreaded on its lower end for receiving the handle bottom-piece,threaded on its upper end to receive the head of the handle, with catchand notch between them, preventing the two parts from screwing off, withVertical slot and hole on opposite side of the head of the handle forreceiving the rod, transversely of or in alinement with the handle, apivotal member in which the rod can slide and two hearings in theopposite sides of the handle-head to support the adjusting mechanism, asshown and described.

2. A screw-driver ratchet mechanism, consisting of two toothed andhubbed wheels having their hubs inserted in an opening of amiddle-piece, four pawls engaging the toothed wheels, four springs (fromtwo pieces of flat steel) retaining the pawls in engagement, two sideplates fastened by two rivets, passing through the pawls andmiddie-piece, which is provided with recessed seats at two oppositeplaces for receiving the springs, which are provided with holes and arefastened by means -of pins having threads for screwin into holes of themiddle-piece, and shou ders for retaining the springs and fitting intobearings in the head of the handle, by which the ratchet mechanism ispivotally supported to permit it to shift into position in alinementwith or at an angle to the handle.

3. A bulb-trap consisting of two arms, for

receiving the bulb, two springs retaining the arms, in engagement withthe bulb and a ring surrounding and securing the flat springs in theirpositions, all being mounted between two plates, provided with circularopenings at their centers, and secured by two pins, driven into thehandle-bottompiece, and forming a bulb-trap supporting the rod of ascrew-driver.

In testimony of this, I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WALENTY J. MALECKI.

\Vitnesses PETER POGARZELSKI, WALTER DRIWULSKI.

